On Sunday, March 18, we continued our successful Lunch’n’Learn series with a discussion on social justice, led by Father Paul Feeley, OMI, Superior of the Ontario District Community of Lacombe Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Fr. Feeley has over 40 years of experience in Latin America.
The discussion bounced from Sudan – where the handcuffed arrest of celebrity actor George Clooney raised consciousness about issues in South Sudan, a region where most locals could never afford Clooney’s $100 fine – to the Congo, Peru and Eritrea. The discussion turned to Old Ottawa East’s Dixie Dairy, whose owner Gabriel Ogbit has quietly sponsored several refugees from his native Eritrea. They are now successfully contributing to our society.
The discussion also touched on Aboriginal education. Canadians cannot be complacent when the world’s highest levels of child suicide are taking place in a community northwest of Thunder Bay.
We learned about the rising popularity in North America of micro-lending.
We heard about the importance of human dignity and its links to the Judeo-Christian belief that humans are made in God’s image; how our often belligerent approach contrasts with God’s “patient push for social justice”; the importance of judging actions, not people. We heard about opportunities for all churches to reconnect with youth, whose strong interests in social justice are supported by social media.
We continued the tradition of combining important discussion with good food: delicious hors d’oeuvres, Peruvian caldo (chicken vegetable quinoa soup), and St. Patrick’s Day desserts.
Please visit www. canadianmartyrs. org for upcoming Lunch’n’Learn topics and more.
